Knowing how to deal with party crashers — that is, uninvited guests — is an essential skill if you’re a host or hostess. In just four simple steps, I’ll outline a fool-proof way of addressing this relatively uncommon, but very real issue. It’s the kind of thing no one likes to think about so it doesn’t get covered very much, but nonetheless it’s worth having a contingency plan, just in case.

It’s also worth nothing that while party crashers (a.k.a. gate crashers) are a potential problem for any party, the fact that wearing a costume makes sneaking into an invitation-only event that much easier makes preparing for this kind of intrusion especially relevant for a Halloween party.